Gas heating apparatus



Nov. 28, w39. H. G. LANDIS Zl-L v GAS HEATING APPARATUS Filed July 19, 1938 INVENTQR. /fy 6- Land/s.,

Patented Nov. 1939 GAS HEATNG APPARATUS Hugh G. Landis Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to f ABcn S. Landis4 ,imputation July 19, 193s, sei-m Nn. 219.991

My invention relates generallytogas heating apparatus, and more particularly to that branch of the art wherein a radiant body or mantle is disposed above a. burner to convert the heat given 5 'up bythe burner flame into radiant heat. This application is a continuation'in part of my former application Serial No. 22,903. illed May 22, 1935. n

`I am aware of the fact that many kinds of mantles and radiant heaters have been offered to the art, but soifar as known to me they have all been singularly deiicient in giving satisfactory heating emciency without the formation of carbon monoxide. It is the major object of myv 2li lv ide a radiantmantle which can be used with various types of burners, and heating installa.

tions which will promote an extremely high emciency therefor.

It is another object of my invention to provide a heater which is simple and durable in its construction and which when embodied in a portablev type heater is unusually safe.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination heater and air moving device which further promotes the flow-of heat theref from into the useful zones for domestic and other heating'purposes.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an emcient mantle type heating device 40 which lends itself to use in house heaters, boilers,

furnaces, cooking ranges, etc., where a high .percentage of radiant heat is desired; These and other olzi'jectsr and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred form thereof, and

from an inspection 'of the accompanying drawing in which: X

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of a heater made in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is an ,elevational -view of -said heater combined with apparatus. for directingthe flow of heat'therefrom, and j Fig.` 3 is a. plan view of the heater of Fig.1 -showing the mantle in detail.

55. Referring now to'the drawing. and particu- 14 Claims. (Ol. 126-85) larly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral I0 indicates a vertically disposed housing or shell which is preferably cylindrical in form and is open at both its upper and lower ends.

The housing may be supported in any suitable 6 manner, as by a plurality of braces II which extend diagonally down to a plate I2 supported at the base of a burner I3 which is vertically disposed withln the shell I0. The burner I3 may be of any suitable type adapted to give as nearly l0 I perfect combustion as possible, and preferably has a circular head with accurately machined ports around its periphery. Burners of the Bunsen burner type have proved admirably suited for use in Vmy heating appmatus. 4

overlying the burner' I3 in a substantially horizontal position, and preferably supported by the upper edge of shell I0 is a radiant mantle indicated generally by the numeral I6. The space between the upper face of the burner I3 v20 land the lower face of the mantle I4 is such that the upper'end of the visible flame from the burer will not quite impinge upon the mantle I4,i. e., the mantle is disposed just above the normal upper limit ofthe llame of the burner. 25 The exact distance between the burner and the mantlewill of course depend upon the size of the flame and the completenessV of thecombustion therein, but for a burner of the type illustrated, operating with the normal gas pressure furnished 30 in most cities,'I have found that if the mantle is spaced approximately .vll/4 inches above the upper face of the burner it will be just above the normalupper -limit of the ame and will consequently develop its highest eillciency. 35

-Asseen best in Fig. 3, mantle I4 is formed of an outer circular plate .or ring I5 within which a pair of metallic ribbons.' I6 and I1 are spirally. wound in alternation with each other, the ribbon I6 being flat and the'ribbon I1 being crimped or 40 corrugated, and disposed with its return bends in :vertical contact with adjacent convolutions of the' fiat ribbon I6.- By this construction, the

mantle is formed with a multiplicity of small vertically-disposed closely-related cells I8 whose 45 depth is equalto the width of the ribbonsand whose cross-section depends upon the space be-v tween adjacent convolutions of the ribbons which in turn depends upon the size of the corrugations in ribbon |11. In practice, the two ribbons 50' and fastened as by welding to the inside of the ring I5 and to the under side of the ribbons. It will be noted that the ring I5 is preferably of suiiicient width, so that the upper face of the ribbons I6 and I1 will be ush with the upper edge of the ring, and the lower edge of the spider will be flush with the lower edge ofthe ring. By this construction a very rugged and easily handled mantle is provided, it also being seen that the size of the mantle can be easily varied by merely varying the number of convolutions of ribbon and the size of the ring I5.

The ribbons used in the mantle should of course be made of metal having a high radiation characteristic, and I have found that chrome steel having around 27% chromium content gives most excellent results. It is advisable of course 'to have the ribbon as thin as possible consistent with the requisite strength and rigidity and I have found that ribbons of about .0071 inch in thickness meet these conditions very well. For the average domestic heater, optimum performance is had when a 1/8 inch ribbon is used to form the cells and the corrugations are adjusted so that there will be approximately cells to the square inch, under which conditions the ratio of cell depth to the average cell width is just a trifle over 1 to 1. However, as will be discussed vmore in detail hereinafter, other ribbon and cell sizes may be used within certain limits.

In the form of my heater illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, I have shown an outer cylindrical shell 20 concentrically mounted outside of shell I0 by any suitable means, such as bolts 2I extending through the lower portion of the shell I0 and through the upper portion of braces II. The upper end of the annular space between the two shells is preferably provided with a grill work 22 which may be formed by spirally winding a at and a corrugated ribbon in adjacent convolutions in the manner previously described for the mantle I4. However, openings in the grill 22 are preferably much larger than those of the mantle I4, for instance, approximately three or four times as large.

I have found that by providing the grill work 22 between the concentric shells I0 and 20, convection currents are promoted in the annular space between the cylinders, so that an effective updraft of air will be formed entirely aroundthe inner cylinder. 'I'his upflow of air assists in keeping the shell 20 at a comparatively low temperature, and the convection currents are moved at a sufficiently rapid rate to keep the temperature of the grill work 22 much lower than that of the mantle I4. Consequently, a protecting shell is provided around the heater proper, so that a person coming in contact therewith will not be seriously burned as would be the case upon coming in contact with the inner cylinder I0 or the mantle I4. While merely providing the two concentric cylinders will cause a certain convection of air therethrough, I have found that the addition of the grill work 22 at the upper end of the chamber between the cylinders promotes the convection currents therein and thus increases the cooling and protecting qualities of the annular cooling chamber.

As is well-known in the art, radiant heat is much more eflicient in warming a room than is convection heat, and as also known, the amount of heat radiated by a given body depends upon its temperature, molecular structure and the area of the radiating surface. Furthermore, it is desirable that the radiant heat be directed into the useful zone, in order to get the highest possible efllciency, this being particularly true for domestic heating such as required in heating the rooms of a house or other structure. By using the metal construction hereinbefore described, it is possible to incorporate an unusually large amount of radiating surface within a small area. for as will be seen from the drawing, the very thin ribbons wound in close proximity to each other provide a multitude of small cells each of which has a large radiating surface. By disposing the mantle in a substantially horizontal position, a substantial portion oi each of the vertical walls of each cell will radiate heat directly into the adjacent atmosphere, the majority of the heat being radiated out at an angle between the horizontal and the vertlcal, withthe maximumbeing on the line nearest the horizontal which just clears the adjoining cell wall.

Inany heating device, there are alwaystwo major requirements which must be met in order to have a satisfactory commercial product; rst, the heater must produce almost perfect combustion which means that a minimum of carbon monoxide is formed; and secondly, the heating emciency must be relatively high with preferably a high ratio of radiant heat to convection heat. In this connection, I have found that there are very definite limitations upon the size and proportions of the cells in the mantle of my invention, and that unless the proportions of the cellular structure are kept Within these limits, the heater is totally unt for practical service.

As the result of exhaustive tests, I have found that if the vmantle has more than 200 cells per square inch, combustion is inhibited, and an excessive amount of carbon monoxide is formed, rendering the heater unfit for use in human habitations; and this maximum allowable figure holds for ribbon Widths as low as 11g of an inch, it being obvious of course that if less than Il; inch ribbon is used, the effective radiant properties of the mantle so far as providing a good heater are concerned are substantially lost. Beyond this upper limit of 200 cells per square inch, the free upflow of the products of combustion of the burner I3 is so inhibited that the hot gases instead of passing through the cells are in a large measure deflected out around the outer edges of the mantle, and of course do not therefore contribute any heat to speak of to the cellular structure. For instance, if a mantle is used having 400 or 500 cells per square inch, it will be found that it ceases to function as a mantle and acts almost entirely as a deilector plate, giving but little radiant heat and forming much carbon monoxide.

Likewise, I have found that there is a maximum cell depth beyond which it is impossible to go and still have a usable heater. As willbe evident, if the cross-section of the cell is maintained constant, and the cell depth is increased, there is a considerable increase in total radiating surface in a given sized mantle, but the additional radiating surface is not within the effective zone of radiation, i. e.,`in a deep cell most of the heat is radiated back and forth between the cell walls and lost by absorption or in promoting convection currents before it is finally radiated out above or below the mantle. Furthermore, if too much metal is employed in the mantle, an excessive amount of heat is absorbed thereby, and of course is not available for radiation, and if the cells are too deep, it will be found that only the lower portion thereof will be heated to a bright red heat. which means that the hot gases will be impinging upon relatively cold metal before they are discharged from the mantle. In -this connection, it will be found that if the mantle is made in accordance with the disclosure herein and is used with a conventional burner of high eillciency, that substantially the entire mantle will be heated to a brilliant red, which'indicates high radiant emciency.

On the other hand, it is essential that the -number of cells per square inch be 'not less than 100, since when the cell cross-section becomes too large, there is a too high percentage of convection heat and a consequent reduction in radiant heat. Furthermore, an increase in the cell cross-section when the .depth of the cell is held constant results in a decrease in total radiating surface and although the remaining surface may possibly be heated to a somewhat higher temperature, there is a net decrease in total radiant heat prow duced. Furthermore, I have found that when the number of cells is decreased to less than 160 cells per square inch, there is an increase in monoxidev formed, due probably to the cooling eect of the increased convection currents flowing up through the metal.

'is about 3 to 2, whereas when a` g ribbon is used,

the optimum ratio by the same test is about 3 to 4. In other words, I have found that for a 1% inch ribbon the ideal cell size is approximately 150 cells per square inch, whereas with a 1% inch ribbon, the ideal cell size is approximately 120 cells persquare inch, while for a 1/8 inch ribbon, which is my preferred form, the ideal 'structure has approximately 130 cells to the square inch. In this connection I have found that when using my preferred form of mantle having approximately 130 cells per square inch .with a le inch cell depth, I secure about 90% radiant heat and only convection heat. Furthermore, while the radiant heat emitted by a square inch of the red hot portion of the mantle is substantially the vsame in all of these cases, where ribbons above taking the optimum cell size from a monoxide standpoint for the 11g inch ribbon, I find that in a 5 inch mantle, the diameter of the glow is onlyV about 41A inches, and with a 1% inch ribbon man--A tle with its optimum cell size that the diameter of the red glow is approximately' 4% inches,

whereas with a 1,4; inch ribbon mantle having optimum cell size formonoxide, the entire maney tle is heated to a brilliant red, indicating that maximum heating efficiency is being obtained.

Consequently, it appears that there is a denite I am aware of the fact that heretofore burner plates for boilers have been constructed by a process similar to the one I employ in construct ing the mantle herein described, but so far as Il am aware none of these burner plates are constructed in such a manner asto make them suitableffor use'as a mantle in a radiant heater, since in order 'to produce a `satisfactory burner piste, it is essentie: that the eenmar passages be long and narrow, i.'e., that the ratio of cell depth to cell width be extremely high. For instance,

in the patent to Stine, No. 1,372,724, issued in 1921 a burner plate is disclosed in which the ratio of cell depth to cell width is approximately 6 to 1, which ratio would probably have to be increased in view of the teachings in the patent to Burns et al., No. 1,896,286 in which is shown a burner plate having cells which are a maximum of 1/700 of an inch in cross-section, and whose depth is preferably times that of their width. It is to be understood that I do not in anyway lay claim to burner plates such as shown by Stine and Burns, since such structures cannot possibly be used as radiant mantles. s

Referring now to Fig. 2, in which I have illustrated the radiant device of my vinvention combined with air moving means, the numeral it again indicates a shell of preferably cylindrical shape, forming a combustion chamber in which a burner I3 is disposed, the shell being supported by any suitable means such as diagonal braces il. A mantle Id constructed as hereinbefore described is mounted in the upper' rim of the shell it in a substantially horizontal position with its lower face ust above lthe normal upper limits of the visible :dame of the burner i3, it being borne in mind that the mantle of my invention will'not function properly if it is placed so close to the upper face of the burner as to allow the flame to play across the mantle, since this results 'in the formation of carbon monoxide in relatively large quantities in accordance with known laws.

Disposed immediately above the burner i5 is pyramid or cone 2t with its base substantially parallel to the mantle Bd and supported thereabove by any convenient means such as the framework 25. Disposed above the apex of the cone 2t and closely adjacent thereto is an electric fan indicated by the' numeral 26 having a motor 2l supported on a horizontal platform 23 which is connected by'suitable legs 2d to the cone t orto the framework supporting it. The cone 2d is preferably constructed of metal with its base polished so as to provide a good reecting surface. While the cone may be made of solid metal, I prefer to construct it of sheet metal and to ill the inside with some material having a low heat absorbing factor, such as asbestos or the like, so that there will be a minimum of heat lost by absorption through the `base of the cone. c

By this construction I obtain all of the advantages of the radiant heater illustrated in Figs'. 1 and 3, in combination with means for moving the air' down through the area of maximum radiation, to further direct the heat rays into the useful zone. l For instance. when a combination heater of this type is mounted on a standard and placedv in a room to be heated, the fan '26 will force a strong current of hot air down to the door', so` that the people in the room will have the full benefit of practically all ofthe heat generated by the heater, the cone 24 being spaced sufficiently above the mantle Il so that the bulk of the radiant energy is directed outwardly at an angle between the cone and the mantle, and

directly into'the air stream flowing down over. Y

the sides4 of the cone. I have also found that combination heaters of this type work admirably', -when suspended by suitable means from the ceiling or raftersin large warehouses orsimilar buildings'where it is desired to have the heaters out of the way and to secure 'asuniform tem perature throughout the room as possible'. For

example, I have found that two or three heaters v thus suspended from the rafters of a large warehouse. will, with a minimum consumption of gas, 5 'give a uniform 'temperature throughout the entire room with a minimum of convection currents. which condition is indispensable in certain industries, such as wineries and the like.

It will be understood of course that the adaptations of my invention illustrated herein are merely representative of the types of installation which are possible with the mantle construction herein disclosed. For example, a plurality of mantles can be grouped in a cluster within one l5 `shell or housing if desired, or may be combined .with an air-cooling device as shown in Fig. 2, the cone 24 being enlarged and the plurality of mantles spaced side' by side beneath the cone so as to give a greater-quantity of heat. For ex- 20 ample, I have found that a heater of remarkably high eiliciency and heat output is produced when y 3 separate burners and mantles are spaced 120 apart beneath a single cone and fan in the type of installation shown in Fig. 2.

While I do not of course wish to be limited to a mantle which is disposed in exactly horizontal position, it is to be understood that if the mantle is rotated very far from the horizontal, its heating efficiency is cut down materially sincethe cell 30 walls are no longer vertical, and consequently cannot uniformly direct their radiant energy into the, effective zone to be heated. Furthermore, if the mantle is not kept substantially horizontal, great difficulty is experienced in correlating. it 35 with the burner, since to get maximum heating efficiency and as nearly perfect combustion as possible, it is essential that the mantle be spaced uniformly from the? llame across its entire area. It will also be understood of course that I do 4'0 not wish to limit myself to a round mantle, but that 4my invention may also be employed with square, oval, mantles, so long as' the cell structure thereof is made in accordance with the limitations herein- 45 before set forth. If the shape of the mantle is varied much from'circular, it isof course advisable to vary the shape of the burner, so that there will be as nearly as possible an equal-distribution of heat onto the lower face of the 50 mantle.

These and other modifications of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that the forms of my invention herein depicted are merely illustrative 55 of the principles involved, and that my invention is not to be' limited thereby, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A radiant type heater which includes: an

60 open flame burner; a mantle overlying said burner; comprising a cellular plate formed of a plurality of thin metallic ribbons spirally wound together to form a series of openings between adjacent convolutions of said ribbons; and means 65 for supporting said mantle just above the normal upper limit of the ame issuing from said burner.

2. A radiant type heater which includes: an open flame burner; a mantle comprising a plurality of thin metallic ribbons spirally wound to- 70 gether, one of said ribbons being transversely corrugated to form a plurality of cellular openings between adjacent convolutions of said ribbons; and means for supporting said mantle just above the normal upper limit of the ame 75 issuing from said burner.

rectangular, or other shaped aromas 3. A radiant type heater as ceilned in claim 3, in which the number of cellular openings in said mantle is not less than 100, or more than 200 per ,square inch.

4. A radiant type heater as defined in claim 3, in which the cellular openings in said mantle are not less than 11;" deep and not more than 1A" in depth.

5. A radiant type heater as defined in claim 3, in which the average Width of the cellular openings in said mantle is not less than one half the depth thereof.

6. A radiant type heater as dened .in claim 3, in which said mantle and said burner are substantially inclosed in a vertical housing open at both ends and deining a combustion-chamber below said mantle.

7. A radiant type heater as defined in claim 3, in which said mantle and said burner are substantially inclosed in a vertical tubular housing open at both ends and a second tubular housing is concentrically supported about said first housing to form an air space therebetween to insulate the same.

8. A radiant type heater which includes: a vertical shell open at each end; an open flame burner disposed within said shell; a mantle supported in the upp/er portion of said cylinder just above the normal upper limit of the :flame from said burner, said mantle comprising an outer ring and a plurality of thin metallic ribbons spirally wound together, one ribbon being transversely corrugated to form a plurality of cellular openings between adjacent convolutlons of said ribbons, said cellular openings being approximately t/B" in depth and there being between 100 and 200 of said openings in each square inch of said mantle.

9. A radiant type heater winch includes: a

yvertical shell open at each end; an open flame burner disposed within said shell; a mantle supported in the upper portion of said cylinder just above the normal upper limit of the flame from said burner, said mantle comprising an outer ring and a plurality of thin metallic ribbons spirally wound together, one ribbon being transversely corrugated to form a plurality of cellular openings between adjacent convolutions of said ribbons, said cellular openings being approximately V8" in depth, and there being approximately 130 of said openings in each square inch of said mantle.

10. A heater comprising a plurality of spaced apart concentrically arranged closed wall sur- `faces having open ends and disposed vertically; a

burner disposed centrally with respect to the inner wall surface; a mantle disposed in said inner wall surface and above said burner, the inner wall surface -deilning a combustion chamber and the outer Wall surface an annular cooling chamber; and means disposed in said annular cooling chamber for conducting heat from said combustion chamber to said cooling chamber to thereby -promote convection currents in said cooling chamber.

11. A heater comprising a plurality of spaced apart concentrically arranged closed wall surfaces having open ends and disposed vertically; a burner disposed centrally with respect to the inner wall surface; a mantle disposed in said inner wall surface and above said burner, the inner wall surface defining a combustion chamber and the outer wall .surface an annular cooling chamber; and a grid spanning the cooling chamber for conducting heat from said combustion chamber to said cooling chamber to thereby promote convection currents in said cooling chamber.

12. A mantle for use in a radiant type heater which comprises a plurality of thin metallic' ribbons spirally wound together, one of said ribbons being transversely corrugated to form a plurality of cellular openings between adjacent convolutions of said ribbons, there being between 100 and 200 of said openings in each square inch of said mantle.

`13. A mantle for use in a radiant type heater which comprises a plurality of thin metallic ribbonsspirally wound together, one ofsaid ribbons ings between adjacent convolutions of said rlbf bons,` there being approximately 130 of said openings in each square inch of said mantle.

HUGH G. LANDIS. 

